In this article we take a look at the study abroad experience and offer advice and real experiences that could help you decide and plan your study abroad trip.
Going abroad for a semester or even a year is something that many college students take advantage of during their time at school. It can be a fun way to experience a new country, practice language skills, or just get some traveling under your belt. Many Loyola students decide to take the leap of faith and study in a foreign country, but it’s not for everyone. We’ll cover some topics that might not be talked about in everyday settings and look at the advantages and disadvantages of both choices.
During the Fall semester of my junior year, I decided to study abroad for 3.5 months in Rome, Italy. It was a choice that I made pretty quickly without putting a lot of thought into it. I do not regret my decision to go abroad one bit, but there are times when I wish I had considered more things before making a final choice. I wanted to go to Italy because I loved the idea of the beautiful Italian countryside, sipping wine, eating pasta, enjoying fresh food and happy people. But my decision to choose Rome did not reflect what I had envisioned in my head. Rome is a huge city, it has a beautiful and rich history, but it isn’t sipping wine on the countryside. This is a huge piece of advice I have to offer—consider every program. Most schools have several countries worth looking into, consider the language, the culture, the food, the school, and the people, before coming to a final decision. Don’t do what I did which was go to two different information sessions before deciding on Rome. I suggest attending any and every information session that you can. I suggest doing research into the city and into the everyday life. For example, if I had known the Rome is a very old-fashioned city and the majority of the population doesn’t speak English that probably would’ve swayed my decision as someone who speaks 0 Italian and is not very good at picking up language.
After you confidently make a choice on a place, studying abroad can be an amazing experience where you’ll make memories that will last forever. Many of my friends went abroad during the same semester and I loved hearing about their trips and the fun they had in different countries. I had friends travel across the world including, Australia, Greece, Germany, South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, England, and I also had many friends decided it was best for them to stay at Loyola. All these choices were good for that individual person and no one I know regrets this decision.
Staying in the United States while others travel can feel slightly alienating, but if it’s the right decision for you personally then it is the perfect choice. Many of my close friends stayed at Loyola while I was in Rome and I’ve heard them gush about how amazing the semester and year was. They’ve said it was a great time to get very close with the friends they had. For them life felt simpler now that a good portion of the grade was gone. While some of their friends were missed, it gave those who stayed a really great opportunity to become friends with new people and do a lot of amazing and fun things.
Whether you choose to study abroad or stay at home, junior year can be a fantastic year filled with memories and fun times. Don’t let the stress of the choice get you down, consider the options and who you are and I’m sure what you choose will be perfect for you.
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